With Robinson gone, Gamble shifts to outside linebacker (PLUS: practice notes)
(Updated 8:40 p.m.)
ATHENS — Georgia coaches were concerned about depth at outside linebacker even before one of their most promising players at the position, Montez Robinson, was kicked off the team last weekend.
So they tried to shore up the position at Tuesday’s practice by shifting Darryl Gamble there from inside linebacker, where he had worked exclusively this spring.
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and Gamble said they talked last week about cross-training Gamble, a rising senior, at outside linebacker. “And with the situation that just came up, it’s obviously a natural fit now,” Grantham said.
The situation, of course, was that Robinson was kicked off the team after he was jailed Sunday on a misdemeanor charge of simple battery/family violence, his third arrest in five months.
The dismissal of Robinson left the Bulldogs with just three scholarship players at outside linebacker — Justin Houston, Cornelius Washington and Chase Vasser. Robinson and walk-on Reuben Faloughi had been the top backups behind Houston and Washington through most of spring practice.
“I guess I was the next best available to move,” Gamble said. “I was, like, ‘Somebody has got to help them [at the position]; why not me?’”
Said Grantham, who coaches the outside linebackers: “I thought [Gamble] did a real good job today. I thought he made some plays. . . . It was a good first day.”
Coach Mark Richt said after Tuesday’s practice that it’s his guess the move will stick and Gamble will play outside linebacker in the fall.
The Dogs are considerably deeper at inside linebacker, where they have six scholarship players not counting Gamble –- Akeem Dent, Christian Robinson, Marcus Dowtin, Richard Samuel, Akeem Hebron and Michael Gilliard. Dent and Robinson were working as the first team inside linebackers Tuesday.
“Our whole deal is . . . the guys who produce and make plays and give us the best chance to win are the guys we’re going to put on the field,” Grantham said. “And to do that sometimes you got to move guys around.”
Other notes from Tuesday’s practice:
- It was the hottest session of the spring — 89 degrees at the start of practice.
- Defensive line coach Rodney Garner said his first-teamers right now are DeAngelo Tyson at nose and Demarcus Dobbs and Abry Jones at ends.
- Wide receiver Israel Troupe missed practice because of a concussion suffered in a scrimmage last weekend. Richt said Troupe is doubtful for Saturday’s G-Day intra-squad game.
- Wide receiver Marlon Brown’s shoulder injury had him in a green non-contact jersey again, but he participated in practice.
- The three quarterbacks – Logan Gray, Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger — continued to share snaps.
- Tailback Caleb King, still bothered by a strained knee, missed his third consecutive practice. He did some light running and rode a stationary bike on the sidelines.
- Just two practices remain before the G-Day game completes spring ball. For those who have asked, G-Day admission is free, and the game will be televised on CSS, and the starting time Saturday is 2 p.m.
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83 comments Add your comment
bad apple dawg
April 6th, 2010
7:32 pm
Its 2:00 AM Do you know where your football players are?
bkbroila4224
April 6th, 2010
7:33 pm
O.K. what is the problem with this story???? The complaintant…Montez Robinson’s girlfriend, claims that he “pushed her off of “His” bed and slammed her on the floor…” Didn’t she supposedly have a restraining order on HIM???? Then what the Hell is she doing at HIS dorm in HIS bed???? He should have cut ties with the girl when she first cried wolf and then changed the story and said nothing happened…what a dumbass…well, way to throw your future away on a crazy woman, son…
georgiarednblack
April 6th, 2010
7:38 pm
those of you making snarky comments about marlon and caleb consider this:
1. it’s not a game against an opponent that ga needs to win. it’s spring. do we want a tailback doing real damage to a knee for a nothing “game” ?
2. do you think the players just show up and say, “no thanks I’m not feeling like it today?” it’s not up to them. the coaches tell them, the trainers evaluate and decide.
If players don’t want to play football they are not going to be college football players. They are there because they love to play. If they are injured, do you think your sarcasm and derision is somehow enlightening and teaching them a lesson?
Learn something about college football first, then make the snarky comments.
It’s funny, too, that for some players it’s “same old song and dance” and for others it goes without mention, or fans actually wish them a speedy recovery. Last SAturday we had neither TB out there. Players get injured.
For me, I will never forget that Caleb King finished the LSU game with a broken jaw and was back on the field two weeks later. Without eating the next two months, he didn’t miss another game or another practice.
Can you imagine how frustrating it is for HIM to deal with these injuries?
But, no, you are going to criticize.
Pathetic “fans” you are! Actually, you are just pathetic at being decent people with those comments.
yogi B
April 6th, 2010
7:44 pm
give montez one year of hard time for his crime. Then give BoBo two years hard time for impersonating a football coach!
Buzzy Rosenberg
April 6th, 2010
8:06 pm
jack bull, let it go, dude. Someone who is a longtime season ticket holder is not the same as ’someone who should know’ Samuel’s a LB, period.
Montez Mania
April 6th, 2010
8:10 pm
You just don’t have the talent to have a top notch SEC defense and if rival teams keep coming into Georgia and take top prospects while UGA sticks with the 3 stars because they want to be Dawgs you never will.
Richard Simmons
April 6th, 2010
8:10 pm
Check out Dawg Stephens blog poll on Mark Richt. I voted Good Looks ! Me and Dawg Stephen are the only two so far that has voted on Good looksand we need your vote ! http://dawgstephen.blogspot.com/
jasont13
April 6th, 2010
8:24 pm
Dog grad here in Louisville, KY and just happen to collect a pay check from the University of Louisville. Over heard a conversation between coaches that will remain un-named but one was fired by UGA and the other was a defensive coach in the SEC last season. They were both in ageence and would like to try to get Montez Robinson up to Louisville now that he has been released from his scholarship from UGA. Funny looks like these guys are going after character, same coaches who signed BJ Butler whom UGA pulled a scholarship from.
hugedawgfan
April 6th, 2010
8:33 pm
Can we please keep it together for the benefit of the team. All this shifting of guys to new positions doesn’t bode well. Come on, guys.
Top Dawg
April 6th, 2010
8:37 pm
What is CSS, and what channel is it on Dish Network?
Pi$$onaJacket
April 6th, 2010
8:39 pm
30-24 still makes me smile. The DAWGS will shock the football world this year.
Big L
April 6th, 2010
8:46 pm
Well spoken grandad. Very rarely do people know the difference betwen racism and bigotry.
Jimmy
April 6th, 2010
8:49 pm
I agree w/ BKbroila. Just another story of a young man wasting his skills on a sleazy woman. WHY on earth would she be at HIS place on HIS bed if he’s been arrested THREE times w/ in the past few years because of problems she’s had w/ him?? Of course if he’s her “baby’s mamma” then everything i just said is off. Daddy’s gotta take care of baby’s momma ya know.
Delusional Dawg
April 6th, 2010
8:52 pm
BTW, when do they give out that Spring Football National Championship trophy?? Anybody know or am I gonna have to ask patrick sulley. He seems to be the authority when it comes to this time of the year. We know Florida’s not gonna win it, that Brantley ain’t worth a darn although I’ve heard he’s really been practicing throwing to his left. Couldn’t hold a candle to Aaron Murray and his All Pro high school career much less his sterling spring ball completion percentage. I guess the Gators will just have to wait till the fall to have a chance to win anything since UGA is the King of Spring!
DC
April 6th, 2010
8:55 pm
CSS = Comcast/Charter Sports SouthEast, itIs only on Comcast/Charter
Joe Namath
April 6th, 2010
9:08 pm
O.K. I’m not gonna be nagative about the bulldog program. (even though I love BAMA.) UGA had a good recruiting class. They have some good talent returning. The Q.B. position is still up in the air. But someone will step up and be a leader. They always do in Athens. The good thing they have going for them next season is they will not be picked that high. And they will surprise some folks. ( I hope its the GATORS.)
jack bull
April 6th, 2010
9:20 pm
Buzzy Rosenberg, wrote your name down, and i’ll be expecting that apology as soon as it happens. And if it doesn’t happen, then trust me, my nephew, who is on scholarship there on the defensive side of the ball, will hear it from me(in a jokingly manner albeit). But, just for the record, i’m simply relaying any information that i am priviledged to get.
Oh yeah, there are a couple of longtime season ticket holders that i would believe when they spoke. Especially the one whose name is on one the gates there at the stadium and who has given millions to the school. But what do i know, right?
Kirby Smart
April 6th, 2010
9:40 pm
Solid. Really solid.
Richt on taxi incident: ‘I hope in the future people just reserve their opinions’ | UGA sports blog
April 6th, 2010
9:54 pm
[...] Tuesday practice notebook: Gamble moves to outside linebacker, etc. [...]
jimbo dogs
April 6th, 2010
10:42 pm
Stay healthy Marlon, we need you this year to step up like the old dominate Marlon. Bring it my man.
RED DOG 77
April 7th, 2010
1:19 am
Yup……….Ol RED DOG says………BULLDOG defense is going to bloody a whole heap of noses during the 2010 season………Yup,………That’s what Ol RED DOG says !
hunker down
April 7th, 2010
3:06 am
With the release of Robinson from the team this frees up a scholarship. So in a way it is a good thing for the dawgs to know now in the spring than in the middle of play this fall. I agree with blogger if he can’t make good decisions off the field he would use tainted judgement on the field as well. Does this mean that we could go after say a jc now to fill that slot? Not sure of what the ruling is on this one.
chazzo
April 7th, 2010
6:53 am
The game aint free, folks. You are supposed to bring a bag of canned food. Also, be sure to put litter in its place.
chazzo
April 7th, 2010
7:02 am
Hey, Poopi,
When you actually do some research and compare and rank amounts of disciplinary actions of top 120 DI football teams. In addition, rank the seriousness of offenses. Driving without a license on a moped, for instance, is hardly thuggish. Then, compare arrests rates of players with that of the whole campus. Then maybe someone would take you seriously. In other words, until you know what you are talking about, shut up and crawl back under your rock.
For the life of me, I don’t understand why some so called journalists out there, don’t do their research and present these facts. Just like everything else in the news these days, all flash and no substance.
chazzo
April 7th, 2010
7:06 am
Point in case, Butler and Duke played to the wire. BUTLER… This is the ticker tape parade of sports stories. But, all anyone is talking about is Tiger Woods pee pee. America is obsessed with this man’s joint. WTF.
AceDawg
April 7th, 2010
9:52 am
I have a feeling the UGA defense will be well-prepared this coming season. If they do not perform, it is probably because they have to pick up the recruiting for the right athletes to run the system, but it seems natural that they’ll be at least a little better than last year even in a worst case scenario. Considering that fact, how can we not feel good about UGA knowing what kind of offensive potential we have? We could have an All-SEC type quarterback (honestly, regardless of who it is, I think the starter will have big success), and Ealey looks like a work-hammer out there and is going to pound out some big yards.
Bulldog
April 7th, 2010
10:11 am
Too bad we lose Robinson. Personally, I think the kid deserves another chance, but who am I to decide?!? These kids come to Athens to play football and learn and mature as men under coach Richt. I hope that cutting him loose does not ruin the kids future as a man. We need to mold these kids better. He is a heck of a football player and I wish he would see the field in the Fall…
GO DAWGS SIC EM WOOF WOOF WOOF!!!!!!!!!
dawg fan 112
April 7th, 2010
10:25 am
im glad to here that the defense is shaping up i am concerned with who the quarterback is going to be i personally think it should be Aaron Murry i feel that he has more potential then Logan Gray, but any thoughts on who you guys think is going to start
HanDAWG
April 7th, 2010
10:30 am
Defense better grow up fast, and I think we have the right coaches in place. Think of it this way: the Dallas Cowboys had the most dominant D in the NFL last season, and we are running their D, headed up by one of their coaches. Hailing from Austin and Ft Worth, I follow Dallas closely and have been wishing UGA would implore a more aggressive D, like the Cowboys. It works best with one big athletic NT (Tyson can be our version of Jay Ratliff) and allows for a more rangy, less passive, attacking mode for all of the other 10 players. (Please Read: http://www.bighairyblawg.com)
JMac 01203
April 7th, 2010
10:31 am
It is about time that CMR showed a little backbone by kicking Robinson off the team. Previously, players knew they would be suspended for the game with the Montana School for Wayward Girls, or whatever cupcake they were playing. That sent a soft message to the team. On the other hand,the suspension of Robinson sends a message of “I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore”. I am not a UGA fan, but I think it is about time he got tough with his team. You might actually make a better bowl than Shreveport this season. Way to go CMR.
ugaclassof2004
April 7th, 2010
10:32 am
Well I know one thing is for certain, the LB position needs to improve dramatically this season, especially since we’re losing Rennie. And even Rennie was just OK in my opinion. He played well when the offense had a lead, but he made too many tackles up field ala Keith Brooking.
The inside LB’s in particular are going to have to make plays this year. Dent and Robinson need a lot of work.
I appreciate the optimism from Dawg fans, but looking at it objectively this team is a work in progress. New QB, new defensive scheme, and I think the schedule will be tougher than folks think with especially with the SEC West teams we play( Auburn, Arkansas, and MSU) being better this year. We do have some weapons on offense, especially with AJ and the running game. But if the QB’s can’t get the ball to the WR’s and if Bobo doesn’t utilize the running well ( as he has been known to do in games), then it won’t matter. Still, I think the Dawgs can pull off an upset or two if everything can come together at the right time. I could see this team losing to an Arkansas but beating Florida. I expect an 8-5 or 9-4 season.
UGA Alumnus
April 7th, 2010
10:38 am
I just don’t want to see my Dawgs beat themselves any more. If we play our hearts out and lose then I can deal with that but I can’t accept us giving games away any more. I think we are moving back in the right direction and I truely believe we will finish the season back in the top ten! Can’t wait til Saturday, Go Dawgs!
SEC East Headlines – 4/7/10 « MrSEC.com
April 7th, 2010
12:40 pm
[...] Darryle Gamble from inside linebacker to outside ‘backer.7. The Bulldogs currently have just three scholarship players at outside linebacker. Three. That’s it.8. It sounds like Richard Samuel will play at inside linebacker rather [...]